Stopping device for automobile torpedoes.



F. M. LBAVITT.

STOPPING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE TURPBDOES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.29, 1912.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

INVENTOR EssEs';

WITN

FRANK M. LEAVITT, OF SMITHTOWN, NE YORK, ASSIGNOR TO E. V7. BLSS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW/V YORK, A CORPORATION OIE WEST VIRGNIA.

STOPPING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBELE 'l-ORLPEDOESl Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten new. is, iaie.

Application filed February 29, 1912, Serial No. 680,657.

ni a .si nisni which quickly throws the rudder from hard-a-port to harde-starboard and vice versa, the rudder throw occurring normally whenever the torpedo has veered, by a certain prescribed angle, to either side of its set course. he steering mechanism is con- 'nuous course by a steering' mecha- Vtrolled by-a gyroscope and is somewhat sen sitive. There is consequently some liability that some derangement may occur whereby y the steering mechanism may fail to operate.

in such case it would leave the rudder in lthe-position to which it was last thrown,

namely, either hard-a-port or hard-a-star- The result would be thatv the torpedo would, in still water; follow an arc of a circle which would carry it far out of its intended course, and intime of War lmight cause it to explode the ship or boat from which it was launched or one of the friendly leet, instead of one of the enemys ships against which it was directed.. Such accidents have occurred with automobile torpedoes during practice runs, resulting in the torpedo returning nearly to its starting point and ramming the boat 'from which it was launched.

The present invention aims to prevent;

re. Torpedoes, are commonly steeredsuch disaster by providing means for stopg ping the engine in case the steering gear bel comes inoperative or operates so tardily as not to reverse the rudder within a predetermined maximum inte val ot time from the last previous reversal. ln a normal opi mechanism comprises an engine or so-called eration the rudder will, after the torpedo heads upon its course, be thrown over at intervals approximating one or two ,secondsv A' sufficiently greater interval, say tor exten seconds, may be selected for givample 7 the delayed action othe ing ample time for steering mechanism in case the torpedo were to be `slued from its course by the action of some disturbing current. If at l l i i l 'oi this engi-ne. The means the end of this determined interval it has not thrown the rudder the mechanism provided by tlie present invention then acts to shut oli the supply of motive fluid (com.l pressed air) from the engine which drives the torpedo, so that the torpedo is compelled to come to a stop or lose headway bei from a determined starting point and travels thence in the operative direction until arrested by a movement imparted from the steering engine. Hence its travel is stopped whenever the steering engine throws the rudder. It then automatically returns to its startingr point and reconinienees its travel. Normally it never finishes its complete course; but in case the steering mechanism ceases to operate or its operation is delayed beyond the prescribed time, the traveler. continuing` its progress.y reaches the limit of its course, and in so doingY operates some device whereby the supply .of air or other motive tluid is shut ott from the engine.

A simple and preferablemeans tor embodying the invention comprises a rack and pinion, the rack constituting or connected to the moving' part which has been called the traveler. and the pinion connected to the propeller shaft or other driving means, whereby it is given continuous rotation, preferably at a substantially uniform speed. llhcn the reel; is in mesh with the pinion thelatter slowly moves it in the direction which would bring the traveler to the operative end of its course. A connection is made with the steering mechanism whereby at each throw of the rudder the rack and pinion are unmeshed; and a spring is provided for thereupon drawing the rack back to its starting point. 'Vhen the steering servomotor, the connection for throwing the rack out of gear may be conveniently made with a cross-head or some other moving part for shutting 0H the air from the engine may comprise a valve which, at starting, is unseated, being held so during the run by a detent; and the traveler may be adapted, upon reaching the iiov end of its travel, to withdraw such detent derstood, I have shown in Figure l, a diagrammatic representation of a torpedo, the view being in general a vertical, longitudinal mid-section and illustrating on a reduced 1 other suitable part of the steering appara scale and in diagrammatic manner, the application ot, the present invent-ion to a known type of torpedo. Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section, showing the stopping mechanism and its connections on a larger scale, the parts being in the starting posi tion ot the traveler. F ig. is a similar view showing part of the u'ieehanisin of Fig. 2,'.

the parts being shown at the instant when the steering engine has thrown the rack out of mesh with the pinion and the rack is moving back to its starting point. Fig. l is a 'similar view showing the parts in the position where the rack or traveler has been carried to its final operative position and has just finished opening the valve which will insure the stopping of the engine.

Referring first to Fig. l, letl A designate the hollow shell of the torpedo, B the usual compressed air reservoir, C the engine, here shovvn as a turbine, D the outer propeller shaft, E', E the propeller screws, F the ver tical rudders foi-steering in a. horizontal plane, and G the steering engine, connected to the tiller b v the usual tiller rod G. Compressed air in the reservoir B is admitted through a pipe or conduit a, which is controlled by a starting valve b, and a reducing valve c, the air under reduced pressure being Conducted to the nozzle of the. turbine C. The starting valve I) is operated in well understood manner from the cont-rolling valve H through a communicating tube d. The usual starting hook e which is thrown over during the act of launching, operates a lever f which throws open the controlling valve H, throwing it to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position it is held by the passing, under the valve stein g, of a detent z. which may consist of a notched rod or slide, as shown, having a spring fr which, when the stem g is lifted, causes the detent to pass under it and hold it lift-ed. These parts are all either of known construction, or at least form no novel part of the present invention, and may be substituted by any known or suitable equivalents.

J is the traveler, the extreme movement of which serves to Withdraw the detent and close the valve H. Although it might have various forms it is here shown as a lever pivoted at any suitable point, its tree end being adapted to encounter the detent 7i. The traveler is drawn back b v a spring j against a stop j and is propelled forward by a rack and pinion, the rack being lettered K and the pinion L. The pinion is driven at suitable speed from any suitable driving part, as for example, from a worm Z on thepropeller shaft D. The rack K .is hung at one end to the traveler J and its other or free end is connected bv a. rod to a lever m having a eam 'projection 'ml' which coacts with a cani projection p on the cross-head j) of the engine G (or on any tus).

ln operation the traveler, having been brought to its starting position,` its rack K is dropped into mesh with the pinion L, this being the position of the parts shown in F 2. Thereupon the rotation of the pinion L carries with itI the rack K and moves the traveler J progressively from the starting position shown in Fig. 2 toward theterminal position shown in Fig. 4'. Normallv the steering enginewill throw the rudder before the traveler has moved tar from its starting position. When this occurs the cam 79 engages thc cam m. and lifts the lever 'm and rod le, thus throwing the rack K out. of engagement with the pinion L. Fig. 3 shows the parts thus lifted by the contartof the two cams. .As soon as the rack K is thus unmeshed, the retracting spring j of the traveler draws the parts 4bar-k to the starting position. As'soon as the cam p has passed the cam m the. rack is dropped back into mesh with the pinion, as shown in Fig. The retraction of the traveler to the starting point should precede this engagement of the rack and pinion. Hence'in the normal operation the traveler repeatedly is restored to the starting point and recommences from there its progressive movement, being arrested and restored in the early part ot this movement: so that 'the traveler executing a .succession of slovvforward and quick return movements so long as the nor.- inal operation of the torpedo continues. lf. however, the steering apparatus should fail to throw the rudder for a period longer than that Jfor which the traveler is timed, the engagement of the rack and pinion will 'carrir the traveler to the end of its movement, where, as shown in Fig. 4, it strikes the detent 71 and displaees it so as to release the stem-g and close the 'valve H. The closing of the controlling .valve H in turn operates and elo-ses the main air valve thus cutting oit the air from the engine. ConsequentlyY the torpedo, being deprived of power to drive it, soon comes to rest. v

To insure that after the disengagement. of the rack and pinion these shall notrengage until the return movement of the traveler to its starting point has been vcoinpleted, a special d'etent M is provided, the function of which is on the lifting of the rack l( to snap under it and hold it up until. thev completion of the restoringmovement, and thereupon 'to permit the rack to fall into engagement with the pinion. To accomstood that While I have shown a rack and lit holds up the pin and prevents the dropping back of the rack. The parts retain this position as shown in Fign?) during the restoring movement, at the end of which the detent M, being stopped by-its stop r. the pin g moves behind it and, on dropping oit from thev detent the rack falls into re'engagement with' the pinion.

The mechanism may be greatly moditled without departing from the essential features of the invention. It vvill be underpinion for imparting movement to the traveler, any other suitable mechanical driving means may be substituted. `What l have called the traveler and its operatmg means, constitute, in fact, a form of timing device and be substituted by any other suitable timing means. Thaty which is essential to my invention is that the timing means shall so cooperate whhi the steering mechanism that so long Vas the latter throws the rudder at the normal intervals of time, or Without exceeding a predetermined delay beyond the normal, the

timing mechanism shall be rendered impo-v tentto operate lthe means ivhereby the torpedo is to be stopped or rendered harmless; but in case of undue delay of the steering operation, the action of the timing mechanism will be completed and itivill operate the stopping means and cause the consequent stoppage of the torpedo so as to prevent unintended damage thereby.

The timing mechanism need not met-.sure absolute time, but preferably Will measure time proportional to the speed of the engine, that is to say, in proportion t-o the number of revolutions of the propeller shaft. It is therefore preferable to drive it from the propeller shaft or some other part connected to the engine or' turbine.

VTWhile the stopping of the engine, and thereby stopping the run of the torpedo, is obviously the best means of rendering the torpedo impotent to do accidental or unintended damage, yetmy invention does not negative the substitution of other means of rendering the torpedo impotent or innocuous. Any of thc means heretofore used for rendering an unexploded torpedo harmless at the end of its run may be employed. lt has long been cust'nnary with 'the *Whitehead torpedo to provide means for sinking the-torpedo in case it completes its run without exploding.

'1. ln a torpedo, means for stopping its normal run to render it harmless in case the steering mechanism becomes inactive, comprising a timing device adapted to effect such stoppage at the end of a determined interval, and means connected with the steering mechanism adapted upon the occurrence of a steering movement ivithin said interval to prevent such stoppage.

2. In a torpedo, means for stopping its normal run in oase the steering mechanism becomes inactive, comprising a timing device, meansconnected to the steering meehanism for causing the restoration of the timing device upon a steering movement, and means operated at the end of the period determined by theitiming device for actuating such stopping means.

3. ln a torpedo, a. timing-device comprising a traveler moving from a starting to a stopping point, means for stopping the normal run of the torpedo operated when such traveler reaches its stopping point, and means operated from the steering mechanism and adapted to stop the movement of the traveler and restore it to its starting point.

al. In a torpedo, the combination of a cutoff valve for stopping the engine, a timing device moving proportionally to the speed of the engine, and adapted on completing` its movement to operate said valve, and means operated b v the steering mechanism for disconnecting and restoring said timing device upon each steering movement.

5.- In a torpedo, the combination of means for stopping its normal run to render it harmless, a traveler moving from a iizied starting point to a stopping point. adapted on reaching such stopping point to operate such stopping means, the steering mechanism, and a connection between the same and .said travel, whereby on 4each steering movement the traveler is disconnected and restored to its starting point.

6. In a torpedo, the combination of a valve controlling the engine, a. detent for holding said valve open, a traveler moving from a fixed start-ing point and adapted, on completing its movement. to displace said detent and close said valve, means for moving said traveler, steering mechanism, and a `connection between the latter and said traveler, adapted upon cach steering movement to disconnect and restore the traveler.

T. ln a torpedo, the combination ivi h its engine, controlling valve and steering mechanism, of timing device comprising a traveler moving from a fixed starting point and adapted on completing its movement to operate said valve to stop the engine, gearing for imparting movement to said traveler from the engine, and a connect-ion from the steering mechanism to said gearing adapted A iso ing niecininism for ti'nowing it ont of mesh y upon each .steering movement. :1nd means for lestoiing' iijto its starting position when so nnincshed.

i). In :1 toi'pedo, the colnbnntion with its origine, ron'ioliing valve :ind steoringmeohnnisni, oi a inning devine comprising u rack :ind pinion. ihn pinion dlivon from the e12- gine, the racii movable into and out of .mesh with the pinion, :i Connection from thestoering' ineci'mnisin for throwing it ontv of mesh upon @zich steering' movement. n doont for holding;v it ont of mesh. retiuf'tng means fop restoring it to its starting pointl` :nld :i Sfop` for said defent, whereby on reaching its si'ni'ting; point tho rook i'engages with iis i driving pinion to ifcoonnnonco iis move-- lnenf. i

In witness hereof` I have hoi-@unto signod in v nonna in the pi'esonvn o'i two subi aciibing Witnesses.

FRANK M. LEVTTT.

Yii'ncssos:

H'. C. SEAMAN.

J. D. M. TUM-1'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents` Washington, D. C. 

